The beating lasted for nearly two hours.
By the time the young Taoist, with a full belly and a self-satisfied smirk, approached.
The group of elders finally concluded their beating of Dixing.
Cao Yu and the other old men smiled and said to the young Taoist:
"Xiao Ming, you sang quite well today. The ancestors must also show their appreciation."
With that, they tossed him a Soul Orb of Emperor level, which was the spoils of war recently offered by the Corpse Witch clan.
"Thank you for the reward, Ancestors."
The young Taoist grinned broadly and accepted the Soul Orb.
Lin Zhan nudged the young Taoist and said, "Brother-in-law, isn't it a bit improper for you to openly solicit bribes like this?"
The young Taoist was taken aback, then pouted and said:
"Big brother, what's improper about it? Who dares to control me? Besides, I'm openly selling my autographs. Don't you know that our rock yeast is also a popular young idol now?"
Lin Zhan was stunned: "When did you become a popular young idol? What, did you debut?"
The young Taoist looked at Lin Zhan with an expression of senile dementia and said:
"Big brother, have you been beaten silly by the ancestors? Mother Star Global Entertainment Co., Ltd. is my business. If I say I'm a popular young idol, who dares to say I'm not? If I get angry, I'll send them to the Atai Special Zone and the local produce people as sisters."
"Big brother, I'll say it again, you see these legions below acting obedient, but in fact, every one of them is up to something on the sly. And after these major battles, these legions are all swimming in wealth."
"This batch of special equipment was forged with the benefits I received from the last batch of equipment. Instead of letting them squander resources, it's better to give them to me. I can research more new equipment."
"Besides, I went through all this trouble to collect some benefits and enjoy myself, what's wrong with that? I call this taking from the people and using it for the people."
Lin Zhan gave a thumbs up, his face full of admiration, and said: "Alright, brother-in-law, you're amazing. This is the first time I've heard someone explain bribery so altruistically. You're really going further and further down the path of shamelessness."
The young Taoist rolled his eyes at Lin Zhan, and couldn't help but retort: "Who in our entire human race doesn't know I'm the second most shameless?"
Before the young Taoist could finish, Chang Ruo tore through space and walked out.
He was accompanied by three youths in black robes, with clean and refined appearances.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes and quickly said to the young Taoist: "Brother-in-law, see? I knew from the first glance that these three are not human. Let me perform a ritual to reveal their true forms."
The young Taoist covered his face and said exasperatedly: "Big brother, did you forget to take your medicine today? If you keep being so superstitious, Ancestor Cao Yu will scold you again."
Lin Zhan quickly turned to look at Cao Yu and found him looking at him with an displeased expression. Lin Da Shao instantly returned to his normal self.
A black-robed youth in the center smiled and said to Lin Zhan: "The current imperial son of Dashang is indeed exceptionally spirited. An interesting little fellow."
Cao Yu bowed to the black-robed youth with a gesture of equal standing, saying: "Esteemed Emperor Xuan Yi, I will trouble you this time."
These three black-robed youths were transformed from the Black Birds of Dashang. Xuan Yi in the center was the Imperial Xuan Bird awakened by Zi Qi using the ice-frost bone dragon to convert fortune.
Xuan Yi shook his head and politely said: "Esteemed Emperor Cao Yu, you are too kind. Our clan are originally the Black Birds of Dashang. When Dashang marches to conquer the heavens, our clan should naturally accompany the army for protection. Our two clans are mutually prosperous, so Esteemed Emperor need not be so formal."
Cao Yu nodded, then pulled Lin Zhan over and said: "Zhan'er, this is the totem of Dashang, the Black Bird of Dashang. Why don't you pay your respects as a junior?"
Lin Da Shao's character was such that he was never afraid of acknowledging ancestors, especially powerful ones. The more ancestors, the better. After all, Emperor-level beings were strategic town-protection artifacts at this time. If a family had two more Emperor-level beings, they would have much more say among the myriad races.
If Dashang didn't have so many Emperor-level ancestors, Lin Da Shao, who was as obsequious and inhuman as he was, would have been killed hundreds of times over.
"Dashang's Lin Zhan pays his respects to Esteemed Emperor Xuan Yi."
Xuan Yi nodded and said: "That's enough, kid. Stop being so hypocritical. Patriarch Zi Qi has already told me about your true nature."
Then he called over the other two Black Birds and said: "These two are my offspring, just like the two Black Birds in your Lin family ancestral home. They will protect you personally and accompany you on campaigns."
Lin Zhan looked at these two young-looking Black Birds, then at Xuan Yi, and said blankly:
"Holy cow, the father and sons look just as young. Are they really your biological children?"
The moment Lin Zhan finished speaking, the entire hall fell into silence.
The young Taoist reacted extremely quickly, flying up and kicking Lin Da Shao into the air.
Then, with agile movements, he took out a single-shot grenade launcher and fired a shot at the flying Lin Zhan.
He directly blasted Lin Da Shao over a hundred meters away, out of the large tent.
"Um... Esteemed Ancestor Xuan Yi, please don't take offense at my big brother. His brain isn't working well, and he forgot to take his medicine today. Please don't hold it against him."
Xuan Yi shook his head helplessly and said: "Heh heh, I'm used to it. Their family has a genetic predisposition for this."
Then he looked at Dixing, who was lying on the ground groaning, and said:
"What's wrong with Dixing this time? Who beat him up like this?"
After speaking, he waved his hand, and a green light flashed. All of Dixing's injuries instantly healed.
"Thank you, Esteemed Emperor Xuan Yi, haha, I was beaten by these old guys..."
Before he could finish speaking, Cao Yu kicked him, sending him to join Lin Da Shao.
A drop of cold sweat instantly flowed down Xuan Yi's forehead, and he couldn't help but say: "The current generation in Dashang seems quite lively."
"Ah, ha ha ha."
Chang Ruo and the other ancestors chuckled awkwardly.
As Lin Zhan climbed up from the ground, he saw a figure flying out.
He was so scared that Lin Da Shao quickly dodged to the side, fearing he would be hit.
"Splat."
When the figure landed, Lin Zhan quickly stepped forward to help Dixing up.
"Ancestor, why were you also blasted out by Xiao Ming?"
Dixing bared his teeth and said: "Do you think I'm as useless as you are? What kind of weapon could that little fatty use to blast me out... I was kicked out by Ancestor Cao Yu."
Lin Zhan was stunned and pouted: "You're even worse than me. By the way, ancestor, do you know why we were both punished so badly?"
Dixing was startled: "Holy cow, what inside information do you know? Tell your ancestor properly so I know who the hell is backstabbing me. I'll send him to dig potatoes at Sophia's house."
Lin Zhan was stunned, holy cow, this old fellow Dixing has someone on the outside?
"Sophia? Empress Catherine? Ancestor, are you being fair to the Ancestral Grandmother like this?"
Dixing was taken aback, then said to Lin Zhan: "What are you talking nonsense about? Sophia was promoted this year by her own accumulated power. Do I need to say the rest?"
Lin Zhan became excited upon hearing this: "Holy cow, this matter must be clarified. I'll send a message to the First Army right away to attack Siberia. We must get to the bottom of this."